BETTY MARIE SCHMIT
On March 31, 2022, Betty (Elizabeth) Schmit (Waldman) died at her long term memory care facility (Sunlit Gardens) in Alta Loma, California, after a long battle with Dementia. She was 91 years old.
Betty is survived by her children, Deborah (Barry) Zwerner, Alta Loma California, Angela (Terry) SchmitFargen, Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin, Michael Schmit, Las Vegas, Nevada, Therese Schmit, Fontana, California, and Diane (John) Kozar, Fairport, NY; and sibling James (Kathy) Waldman, Sacramento, California. Betty is also survived by 8 grandchildren, Doug (Laura) Zwerner, Greg Zwerner, Bridget (Tony) DeGrand, Patrick Fargen, David (Jessica) Kozar, Kent (Erin) Kozar, Paige Kozar and Michael (Ellie) Kozar. Betty also is survived by 6 great grandchildren, Lily and Nolan Zwerner, Jackson, and soon to be baby brother, DeGrand, Riley and Harper Kozar. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Schmit, parents Bill and Ruth Waldman, siblings Dorothy Waldman and Phil Waldman and daughter-in-law, Barbara Schmit.
Betty was born on January 12, 1931 in Janesville, Wisconsin. She graduated from Janesville High School in 1949 and went on to work in Madison, Wisconsin, where she met George Schmit. Betty and George enjoyed dancing, and that enjoyment of dancing brought them together as they met at a dance while George was taking a college course at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Betty and George married in 1953 in Janesville. George enlisted in the Air Force and they moved several times throughout his time in the service. George served in the Korean War and Betty lived in Janesville with her parents with their first child Debbie. When George returned, they lived in several different cities while in college and ultimately they settled in Upland, California in 1966. At that time, they had all 5 of their children and Upland is where they remained for the rest of their marriage/lives. Betty was a founding member of The Uplanders Club and had been one of the last surviving founders before her death. Betty retired from Avery Label as a customer service representative. When George became ordained a Deacon in the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino, Betty began service to the church with her husband in the ministries of Marriage Preparation, Baptism, and Annulments. Betty and George also began a Seniors Club at St. Joseph’s Parish where they were members for most of their lives. She and George served in the ministry as Deacon and Deacon’s Wife at St. Joseph’s for over 20 years before they retired. Betty was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother and anyone who knew her loved how genuinely nice and warm she was to all.
A viewing for Betty is scheduled for May 26th from 5pm to 8pm at Stone Funeral Home in Upland, Ca and a funeral mass on May 27th at 11:00am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Upland, Ca. The family would like to extend a warm thank you to the staff at Sunlit Gardens Memory Care for all of the love and tender care they provided to Betty during her time at the facility. The staff was genuinely warm and caring as she spent her last several years at the facility. We also are very grateful to Cambridge Hospice for their loving care to Betty this past year. The family asks that donations be sent to The Uplanders Charitable Club Organization (PMB #147 154-A West Foothill Blvd., Upland Ca 91786) or His Hands, 877 N. Campus, Upland, Ca 91786) in lieu of flowers.